Best Reusable Makeup Remover Pads in Australia 2024

20 May 2024  |  Admin

Makeup removal is a daily ritual for many, traditionally involving disposable cotton pads that quickly build up in the trash. As awareness grows about the environmental impacts of single-use products, more people are considering sustainable alternatives.

Reusable makeup pads are a standout choice, typically made from materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or microfiber. These pads can be used to simply whisk away your makeup, be washed and and reused over and over again, offering a practical solution to reduce waste in our skincare routines.

How Many Makeup Pads Are Used in Australia Each Year?

If the average person uses 2 to 4 pads a day to remove their makeup, that's around 100 to 200 pads used per person each year. That's a lot!

Every year, Australians use and dispose of millions of single-use makeup pads and wipes, contributing significantly to landfill waste.

However not everyone bins these wipes as they should and it's estimated that Australian water utilities spend $15 million each year removing wet wipes from sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. Households can face plumbing bills in the thousands of dollars if these wet wipes block drains also.

Cotton farming for makeup pads also demands a lot of water and pesticides, further amplifying their environmental footprint. The waste generated from disposable makeup pads not only occupies landfill space but also contributes to the pollution of local ecosystems as these products slowly break down, releasing microplastics and other pollutants.

What's even better is that it's no hardship switching to reusables as they also do a much better job at cleaning your makeup. Some are much larger than standard cotton pads, or double sided meaning you'll just need one to remove every scrap of makeup.

Here at Cheeky, we've been all about 'Simple Reusables' since we launched our bestselling reusable wipes kit back in 2008. We know our products are great and we've got nothing to fear from the competition. And we know that you have access to Google, just like we do. But we also know that your time is precious, so with that in mind, here's our list of the 10 best reusable makeup removers in Australia 2024.

 

Best Reusable Makeup Pads in Australia

 

 

Cheeky Luxury Bamboo Makeup Removal Pads

Check out our all-time Cheeky favourites, also crowned as 'Best Buy' by Good Housekeeping! Our plush bamboo makeup removing pads come in packs of 5 or 10, or as a nifty kit complete with coconut oil for a gentle, deep clean. Each pad features a soft plush side for more robust cleansing needs and a gentler bamboo side perfect for everyday use. Bigger and thicker than your average cotton rounds, they're ideal for teaming up with your favorite soapy or oily cleansers.

Effortlessly wipe away your makeup using just one pad! Simply dab some cleanser on your face, moisten the reusable makeup remover pad with warm water, and gently wipe off your makeup. Finish with a splash of cold water to freshen up. After use, just rinse the pad and toss it in the wash—ready for next time!

Best: Large Makeup Removers

Size: 11cm round (large)

Material: Bamboo & Plush

For use with: Oily or soapy cleanser

Type of cleansing: General, perfect for all makeup removal with appropriate cleanser

Price: Starting from $22.62 for a 5 pack, to $50.95 for a kit of 10 pads plus wet bag.

Customer Reviews"I already had some of these wipes which I use daily but wanted some more for use when others are in the wash. I was already very happy with the quality of them & that has not changed. They are nice & thick & a really good size & they wash really well."

Face Halo Makeup Pads

Face Halo

Face Halo are often found at the top of any list of reusable makeup removing pads. They're available on their open website, plus the usual stores such as Woolworths & Myers etc. Their HaloTech fibres reach deep into pores for a thorough clean.

We like this set of three pads which do different things. One removes makeup, one cleanses and one exfoliates.

Best: Luxury Makeup Removal

Size: 9.1 cm round

Material: Microfibre

For use with: Water, although cleanser makes them glide easier and will be needed for mascara

Type of cleansing: General makeup removal

Price: $33 for a 3 pack of three

Customer Reviews"Obsessed / trying to convert all my friends to face halo, love that I don’t need to use harsh face washes anymore"

Garnier Micellar Water Eco Pads

Garnier Micellar Water Reusable Pads

Garnier are a long standing drugstore favourite brand and these pads are to be found in most pharmacies, plus online. They're made from polyester microfibre and are designed specifically for use with micellar water.

Best: Big Brand Reusable Pads

Size: 10 cm round

Material: Polyester

For use with: Micellar Water

Type of cleansing: Eye & makeup removal

Price: $16.95 for a 3 pack of three

Customer Reviews: "Love Love Garnier Eco Pads, they are brilliant. The texture of the pads is soft on the skin. Fantastic concept and they do remove all my makeup easily. They wash very well and dry quickly too. I would use micellar water with them or a makeup remover product. The results are amazing, a fresh face without any residue or grease. I wish they came with their own washing bags. The pad quality did not change after washing them in the washing machine. Great value for money and I got mine from Chemist warehouse.."

Cheeky Exfoliating Eye Makeup Remover Kit

Cheeky Face Exfoliator & Eye Makeup Removal Kit

We had to include our Cheeky exfoliating & eye makeup remover kit in this review because it contains a bumper 10 bamboo terry exfoliating pads for general makeup removal and exfoliation, PLUS 10 organic reusable cotton pads which are brilliant for eye makeup removal. It also contains coconut oil to gently melt your eye makeup, plus a wetbag for storage.

Both types of reusable cleansing pad should be used with coconut oil or your preferred cleanser and water. Apply the coconut oil / cleanser to your face, use the pad and water to remove it. See them in action here.

Best: Heavy makeup removal

Size: 8 cm round (cotton wool round size)

Material: Bamboo / Cotton or Organic Cotton Sherpa

For use with: Coconut oil, micellar water or your usual cleanser

Type of cleansing: Eye & exfoliating makeup removal

Price: $70.97 for 20 pads, plus organic coconut cleanser

Customer Reviews: "I'm so glad I finally got round to purchasing a reusable make up removing kit. This one from Cheeky Wipes is exactly what I was looking for. I was actually very surprised by how effective the coconut oil is at removing make up - you only need a tiny amount so it will last for ages and it feels so much gentler than standard make up remover.

The whole system is easy to use - just pop the oil on wipe with the wet pad pop the dirty pad in the washing machine - done! And I feel so much better that I'm not putting endless cotton wool pads into landfill. Kind to skin and kind to the environment - everyone's a winner!"

Best Reusable Makeup Remover Pads Australia

Bondi Sands Squeaky Clean Makeup Removers

These super cute makeup removing pads come 5 shapes and are perfect for the teen or tween in your life.  Dock & Bay are very generously sized if you like a large pad. They're also made from 100% recycled plastic bottles which is an added bonus. Just add water for gentle cleansing.

Best: Makeup Remover Pads for Teens

Size: Not stated

Material: Not stated

For use with: Water or makeup removing balm for heavy makeup

Type of cleansing: General makeup removal

Price: $19.95 for 5 makeup removal pads plus wash bag

Customer Reviews"My daughter loves these makeup pads!"

Best Reusable Makeup Remover Pads Australia

Be Eco Bamboo Terry Makeup Removing Pads

These bamboo terry makeup removing pads come as a pack of 10 with wash bag and do the job well for the price!

Best: Best Budget Option

Size: 8cm round

Material: Bamboo Terry

For use with: your favourite makeup remover, micellar water, cleanser or bar soap and water

Type of cleansing: General makeup removal

Price: $18.95 for 10 pads

Customer Reviews"Bit of a no-brainer really. Should have purchased this product ages ago. I expected them to be a little softer, but they don't cause any irritation to my moderately sensitive skin, even around the eyes."

 

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Life Basics Reusable Cotton Pads

If you're looking for a straight up replacement for disposable cotton rounds, these little beauts might be for you. Use with your micellar water or your normal toner or cleanser

Best: Reusable Cotton Rounds

Size: 8cm round

Material: 3 ply cotton

For use with: Use with your micellar water or your normal toner or cleanser

Type of cleansing: General makeup removal

Price: $24.95 for 10 pads plus washbag

Customer Reviews: "Great product and reusable so no more waste. Natural cotton fabric and very soothing on face with no scratching or nasty chemical residue."

Sodashi Reusable Makeup Remover Muslin Cloths

Sodashi Muslins Face Cloths

If you're looking for exfoliation whilst you cleanse, you can't get better than a muslin cloth. Sodashi recommend you use these muslins with their treatments for super deep cleansing.

Best: Feeling like you have a spa at home

Size: Not specified

Material: 100% organic cotton muslin

For use with: Sodashi treatments

Type of cleansing: Spa treatments

Price: $24.95 for 5 cloths

Customer Reviews: "Muslin cloth is my go-to for that extra pampering after cleansing. It's like a gentle exfoliation, wiping away impurities and leaving it feeling incredibly soft."

We hope you found this interesting!  If you enjoyed it and are looking for other ways to be more sustainable, or are interested in finding out more about Cheeky, you may like these articles:

How to Use Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

The Ultimate Guide to Reusable Makeup Removers

About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection such as tampons or menstrual cups were no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable panty liners and reusable sanitary pads.

The Cheeky customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.

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